If you find yourself working at height, you should always ensure that you are taking the necessary precautions to prevent accidents. In 2013/2014, falls from height were the most common cause of work-related deaths, with nearly 3 in 10 accidents being fatal.
In Northern Ireland recently, a worker fell 3 metres from a ladder onto the concrete floor of the dairy farm where he was replacing a sky panel on a corrugated barn roof. The worker was working from the underside of the roof, but slipped and fell while he was looking at the farm owner during the installation. It came to light that there was no scaffolding erected, nor was the worker wearing a safety harness whist working at height.
An inspector with Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland found that this accident was preventable, and states that it “underlines why farmers must not ignore the potential dangers associated with working at heights”.
This accident illustrates that, no matter what the task, if you are working at height then it is essential that you take the correct safety precautions to reduce the risk of fatalities. To prevent accidents whist working at height, it is important that you don’t over-reach whilst using ladders, and that you do not erect ladders on uneven or unsafe surfaces.
If you have any questions regarding our height safety range, or if you cannot find a product that meets your specific requirements, please contact us by telephoning 0808 123 6969 or emailing a member of our customer service team on sales@safetyliftingear.com.
0117 9381 600
